Epworth – In a heart-wrenching tale of familial discord, a 72-year-old grandmother from Overspill, Epworth, is living in constant fear, alleging relentless abuse at the hands of her drug-addicted son, who she claims is impatiently waiting for her demise to inherit her home.
Gogo Annah Vasco, the elderly resident, says she is being subjected to severe mistreatment by her 30-year-old son, Tafadzwa Sipinyu, who, fuelled by drug abuse with his friends, has allegedly turned her life into a living hell.
The situation has escalated to the point where Tafadzwa has been arrested and is currently awaiting a court appearance to answer charges of both assault and verbal abuse leveled against his own mother.
Confirming the arrest, Harare Provincial Police Spokesperson, Inspector Luckmore Chakanza, stated, “We have a case of this man from Epworth, Tafadzwa Sipinyu (30), who is assaulting his mother in an attempt to force her to leave the house so that he can inherit it after his father’s death. He has been arrested and is expected to appear in court soon.”
Inspector Chakanza used the opportunity to issue a stern warning to young people, highlighting the devastating consequences of drug abuse, including the propensity to commit crimes and, in this case, the unthinkable act of abusing their own parents.
“Our parents accumulate wealth, so children should refrain from mistreating them, even after one of them passes away. Drug dealers’ time is up; they are being arrested and sent to jail, just like this man who assaults his mother will be,” he asserted.
Gogo Vasco, as she is affectionately known, recounted the harrowing experiences she has endured at the hands of her son, which ultimately led her to seek police intervention at the ZRP Dombo station in Epworth.
“After being brutally beaten by this child, I went to report the case to the ZRP Dombo police station here in Epworth,” she said, her voice laced with a mixture of fear and despair.
According to Gogo Vasco, Tafadzwa’s motivation stems from a desire to evict her from the house she has called home since her husband’s passing, driven by a thirst for inheritance.
“I was born on farms in Centenary, where my parents also passed away. I later married my husband, Bharebho Sipinyu, who passed away on 24 October 2022. I am a widow, and I have no one to support me except my other five children,” she explained, painting a picture of a life marked by loss and hardship.
The most chilling aspect of Gogo Vasco’s account is the verbal abuse she endures, with Tafadzwa allegedly taunting her with the question: “In his abusive words, he keeps asking why I am taking so long to die like other old women, so that he can take this house.”
She revealed that Tafadzwa’s descent into drug abuse began following her husband’s death, marking a turning point in their relationship.
“The problem started after my husband died, with him demanding that I leave the house that my husband left for me, claiming it is his house. He says the house doesn’t say Vasco, which is my surname, but Sipinyu. He assaults me and tries to stab me with a knife; recently, I twisted my ankle while running away from him as he chased me, trying to assault me. Residents here in Epworth know my problem of being constantly beaten; when they try to defend me, he chases them away with a knife and stones, leaving me to be beaten,” Gogo Vasco recounted, highlighting the physical danger she faces on a daily basis.
Seeking refuge with neighbours has proven futile, as Tafadzwa reportedly follows her, threatening them to force her out.
“This child takes ‘mutoriro’ (crystal meth), ‘tumbwa’ illicit beer, as I heard, and smokes marijuana and drinks another prohibited beer. He severely beats the grandchild I live with, trying to cut him with a knife, and when I intervene, he starts beating me. When he insults me, he calls me a prostitute, saying I killed his father to take the house,” she lamented, revealing the extent of his erratic and violent behaviour.
Despite reporting him to the police on multiple occasions, resulting in court appearances and punishments, Gogo Vasco says Tafadzwa’s behaviour remains unchanged.
“He steals food that my other children buy for me and goes to sell it to get money for ‘mutoriro’ and to buy marijuana and other beer. He is not married, and I don’t know any of his girlfriends because of this beer problem. I thought that as the youngest, he would take care of me, but now he has become my enemy who wants to kill me because of the house,” she concluded.
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